"Food is to the body what steel is to a sword, and a meal missed leaves one feeling famished." There's truth to this saying. We eat daily, but are you eating right? Have you noticed the small details you should pay attention to? Should you eat fruit before or after a meal? Should you drink soup before or after a meal? And when is the right time to eat staple foods? What are the answers to the debates and questions about eating? Let's read the following article together!
Famous health expert Hong Zhaoguang once said a very classic phrase, "Tasty food is not as good as eating well." This means that some delicious foods are often "killers" of health, while a balanced diet and "eating well" are the most important. To eat well, it's crucial to avoid four major dietary mistakes.
Mistake One: Eating fruit immediately after a full meal
Many people have the habit of eating a full dinner, washing an apple, and eating it while watching TV. Eating fruit immediately after a full meal can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar concentration, while also hindering digestion and increasing the burden on the digestive system. Eating fruit after a meal can also easily increase calories and sugar, leading to obesity.
Suggestion: It's best to eat fruit between meals, such as from 9-10 AM, 3-4 PM, or two hours before sleep. A normal person can eat fruit 1-3 times a day. Fruit also contains sugar, so if you reduce your rice intake but eat too much fruit, you may also gain weight.
Mistake Two: Not eating staple foods when dining out or hosting
When eating at home or hosting a meal, people often disregard the staple foods. By the time the staple foods are served, they are already full from drinks and dishes and just take a few bites. Without staple foods, the energy for a meal can only come from fat and protein. Over time, it's inevitable that blood lipids will rise. Furthermore, staple foods in restaurants are often not very healthy, such as fried mantou, which often contain excessive oil and salt.
Suggestion: You can order staple foods first and have them served with the dishes. The best options are staple foods without oil and salt, such as whole grain rice, mantou, or noodles in their original flavors, paired with a variety of dishes for a delicious and healthy meal.
Mistake Three: Having a bowl of soup after finishing a meal
"Having a bowl of soup after a meal to rinse it down feels so comfortable." Many people have this habit, but it's actually unhealthy. Drinking soup after being full will dilute the chyme that has already been mixed with digestive juices, hindering digestion. This is especially true for fatty meat or bone soups, which add extra calories and can lead to obesity.
Suggestion: Drinking a few sips of soup before a meal can increase satiety, thereby reducing appetite. It can also replenish the body's fluids, lubricate and protect the mouth, esophagus, and stomach, and help dissolve food to promote digestion and absorption. For those who are used to drinking soup after a meal, they can drink a small bowl of light soup in moderation.
Mistake Four: Drinking strong tea in large quantities during a meal
"Drinking tea while eating, it cuts the grease and is healthy." Do you have this idea? In fact, it's also wrong. Tea can relieve fatigue, aid digestion, and cut grease. However, drinking strong tea during a meal can dilute gastric juice, affecting digestion, and also interfere with the absorption of trace elements like iron and zinc.
Suggestion: It's best to drink tea before or after a meal, with an interval of about an hour. Especially drinking tea some time after a meal can promote digestion and absorption, and has the effect of sterilizing and protecting teeth. In addition, it's best to drink light tea.